Published Paper Details:

Abstract: There is no gainsaying the fact that urbanization and development go hand in hand in almost all matters of civilization and progress commensurate with the social and economic aspirations of a nation. It is expected, therefore, that the prospect of education too would relatively speaking, be much advanced in the urban set up as compared to its rural counterpart. And to a respectable degree, this seems to be quite true in the context of higher education in consonance with predictable notions. Yet when it comes to the plight of vernacular medium schools urbanization itself poses the most serious threat to their growth and development. Although the problem is peculiar to all vernacular medium schools of the country this paper seeks to argue with particular reference to the Assamese medium schools of Kamrup (Metro) district that the fact of urbanization itself becomes a curse for learning English for the students of these institutions owing to the monumental neglect to which they are subjected -- basically again, because of the elitist mindset of those in the corridors of power on the one hand and the elevated aspirations of parents on the other, who wish to witness their children climb up the ladder of social success.